The Importance of Art Style

The year is 1985 and you’re sitting down to play a video game. The load up screen flashes on your chunky television and you’re met with thousands of pixels spelling the word PAC-MAN. This is the future! Never been seen before! Quite possibly the most amazing thing you’ve ever witnessed! 

Cut to 15 years later and the pixels aren’t that impressive anymore. It’s been done hundreds of times and the games you can get on your N64 are so much cooler. This happens again and again through various consoles and updated graphics cards, which doesn’t seem to stop even to this day. To combat the companies that dominate the gaming sphere, indie developers turn to unique selling points in order to stand out in an oversaturated market. One of the ways this can be done is through art style.

We’re a far stretch from retro pixel art being the only option for art style in the gaming realm. Even the most straightforward games can have an enhanced experience with the choice of colours, textures and overall inspiration. A brilliant example of this is Mizi NO!, a puzzle game with simple mechanics brought to life by the textural art style and vibrant colours. From the load screen to the settings menu you’re presented with a rugged sketch style mixed with a warm and bold colour palette. As an illustrator I am particularly biased towards quirky design and love to appreciate the artistry behind it all. Even the UI is consistent with this style, producing a uniqueness not seen in other games.

Another game of note is Fields of Mistria, a farming sim that gives a new life to pixel art. Following in the footsteps of Stardew Valley, this game uses traditional pixel art with a combination of bright pastels to create a cosy environment that is a feast for the eyes. Although this game is more complex than the afore mentioned, it still stands out amongst the other games in its genre due to the world-building and character design. 

The last honourable mention is the criminally underrated Jenny LeClue: Detectivu. A narrated mystery with a beautifully hazy environmental design and sharp, geometric character design. The real show-stopper is the use of light which contrasts so well with the darker aesthetic. Other games I would urge folks to check out are Mineko’s Night Market, Slay the Spire, and Thank Goodness You’re Here!

The elements that make video games captivating are plentiful; from sound design to immersive storylines, challenging achievements to playing with a community. Art style is just one piece in a much bigger puzzle, but without that piece it’s hard to have a complete experience.

The year is 2025, you’re sitting down to play a video game. You turn on your PC monitor and boot up your favourite indie game; you’re met with millions of pixels, creating a one-of-a-kind artistic spectacle.

Article written by Goobish Me

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